! 


no 

Ws 


BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

o 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR 

UNITED    STATES   GEOLOGICAL    SURVEY 

J.   W.  POWELL  DIRECTOR 


QUICKSILVER 


ABSTRACT    FROM    "MINERAL    RESOURCES    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES, 

CALENDAR  YEARS  1&S3  AND  l^r— ALIJERT^VVILLLVMS,  JK., 

CHIEF  OF  DIVISION  OF  MINING  STATISTICS 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT     PRINTING     OFFICE 

1885 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR 

UNITED    STATES   GEOLOGICAL    SURVEY 
J.  W.  POWELL  DIRECTOR 


QUICKSILVER 


ABSTRACT    FROM    "MINERAL   RESOURCES   OF    THE   UNITED   STATES, 

CALENDAR  YEARS  1883  AND  1884 '?— ALBERT  ^WILLIAMS,  JR., 

CHIEF  OF  DIVISION  OF  MINING  STATISTICS 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE 
1885 


QUICKSILVER. 

Present  status  of  the  industry. — The  quicksilver  industry  is  in  a  de- 
pressed condition.  The  production  has  fallen  off  largely,  but  this  has 
not  had  the  effect  of  stimulating  prices  to  a  great  extent,,  though  just  at 
the  close  of  1884  a  slight  improvement  occurred.  The  leading  causes  of 
this  depression  are  the  sharp  foreign  competition  in  the  markets  of  the 
world  and  the  decrease  in  the  demand  for  quicksilver  in  amalgamating 
mills.  An  important  outlet  for  domestic  quicksilver,  the  manufacture 
of  vermilion  in  China,  is  apparently  closed  for  the  present,  the  Chinese 
having  obtained  their  supply  in  1884  from  other  sources.  For  several 
years  the  few  California  mines  in  operation  have  either  been  worked 
with  a  slender  margin  of  profit  or  at  a  loss ;  and  one  by  one  the  list  of 
producers  has  dwindled,  the  survivors  being  of  course  the  richest  and 
best  equipped  establishments.  The  New  Almaden  was  the  only  one 
which  paid  a  dividend  in  1884.  It  cannot  be  said  that  the  outlook  for 
the  immediate  future  is  especially  cheering.  With  many  metallic  prod- 
ucts a  cheapening  in  price  means  an  increase  in  consumption  ;  as,  for 
instance,  in  the  case  of  copper,  which  finds  a  partial  relief  in  the  more 
extended  field  caused  by  the  growing  use  of  brass  in  the  arts ;  or  as 
with  Bessemer  steel,  which  is  gradually  supplanting  other  formerly 
cheaper  materials  of  construction.  The  quicksilver  consumption,  on 
the  contrary,  is  very  inelastic.  Important  discoveries  of  gold  and  sil- 
ver ores  suitable  for  amalgamation  would  have  a  favorable  effect  on  the 
quicksilver  trade,  but  it  is  not  likely  that  the  amalgamation  method  will 
regain  its  former  position  in  precious-metal  metallurgy,  as  compared 
with  smelting  and  leaching  processes.  New  utilizations,  such  as  those 
mentioned  in  a  subsequent  paragraph,  may,  however  lighten  the  mar- 
ket. 

Domestic  sources. — In  addition  to  the  localities  enumerated  in  the  pre- 
vious report  a  few  doubtful  occurrences,  lacking  confirmation,  have  been 
reported  in  the  newspapers,  but  it  is  safe  to  say  that  nothing  new  of 
any  importance  has  been  found.  The  actual  production  is  exclusively 
from  the  California  mines,  of  which  the  New  Almaden  and  Guadalupe, 
in  Santa  Clara  county ;  the  New  Idria,  in  Fresno  county  ;  the  Sulphur 
Bank,  Hedington,  and  Great  Western,  in  Lake  county,  and  the  Napa 
and  ^33tna,  in  Napa  county,  have  furnished  nearly  all  of  the  recent 
supply.  In  the  table  of  production  the  yield  of  a  number  of  the  less 
important  mines  in  past  years  is  stated  individually.  In  1870  about 
thirty  mines  were  productive,  but  only  eleven  yielded  any  quicksilver 
in  1834,  of  which  only  six  produced  over  1,000  flasks,  and  the  number 
492 


1 


ti  QUICKSILVEE.  493  j 

was  still  further  reduced  at  the  eiid  of  the  year.  Even  the  Guadalupe 
and  the  Sulphur  Bank,  mines  well  equipped  with  plant  for  mining  and 
treating  ores,  have  now  practically  ceased  work.  The  active  mines  now 
number  but  six.  with  fifteen  furuaces  in  operation.  An  improvement 
in  the  market,  if  it  promised  to  be  lasting,  would  lead  to  the  reopening 
of  a  few  of  the  best  of  the  now  idle  mines,  but  for  the  majority  of  the 
'abandoned  claims  there  is  little  hope. 

Production.  —  The  statistics  of  production  have  been  compiled  by  Mr. 
J.  B.  Eaudol,  manager  of  the  i^ew  Almaden  mine,  and  present  a  full 
report  of  the  American  quicksilver  output.  Mr.  Kandol's  work  is  a  model 
of  statistical  completeness.  It  will  be  noticed  that  in  1883  there  were 
6,0(K  flasks  less  made  than  in  1882  5  while  the  decrease  in  1884,  as  corn- 
pared  w7ith  the  yield  in  1883,  was  even  greater,  amounting  to  a  differ- 
ence of  14,812  flasks.  The  output  m  1884  was  less  than  in  any  year 
since  1874,  and  much  less  than  half  that  of  the  most  prosperous  years. 
It  was  also  below  the  average  for  the  whole  series  of  years  from  the  in- 
ception of  quicksilver  mining  in  the  United  States,  the  average  for  the 
thirty-five  years  having  been  39,095  flasks. 


494 


MINERAL 


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QUICKSILVER. 


495 


1850 


1851 


1852 


1853 


1854 


1855 


1856 


1857 


1858 


1859 


I860 


1861 


1862 


1863 


1864 


1865 


1867 


1868 


1869 


1870 


1871 


1872 


1873 


1874 

1875 

!876t 

I&771 

)87S 

1879 

1880 

188> 

1882 

1883 

1884- 

>    ,3 

f« 

Ss 


496  MINERAL   RESOURCES. 

Production  of  quicksilver  in  California  in  1883,  by  months. 


a 

. 

ri 

d 

<D 

d 

. 

H 

| 

1 

J' 

Months. 

j3 

£ 

B 

4 

0 

.2 

•  £ 

i 

1 

\ 

1 

o 

1 

fc 

M 

i 

0 

& 

O 

> 

H 

— 

Flasks. 

Flasks. 

Flasks. 

Flanks. 

FVkg. 

Flasks. 

Flasks. 

Flasks. 

FVbs. 

Flasks. 

2  497 

112 

367 

280 

77 

390 

590 

262 

7 

4,582 

February  

2,  150 

133 

181 

310 

3C4 

295 

156 

4 

3,600 

March    " 

2  230 

142 

202 

335 

305 

485 

162 

14 

3,875 

April  

1  756 

76 

243 

310 

294 

530 

142 

3 

3,  354 

May 

2  344 

144 

135 

350 

293 

325 

164 

13 

3,  7G8 

June    

2  214 

137 

165 

91 

400 

360 

184 

10 

3,  561 

July 

2  618 

85 

141 

130 

446 

452 

150 

2 

4,024 

August     

3  000 

139 

94 

112 

315 

695 

76 

4,431 

3  010 

164 

45 

265 

297 

750 

81 

30 

4  642 

October    

2*672 

272 

109 

206 

215 

5°  I 

134 

4,129 

November  

2,212 

115 

78 

160 

208 

613 

102 

3,  488 

December 

2  297 

87 

134 

63 

342 

274 

56 

18 

3,271 

Total 

29  000 

1  606 

1  894 

2  612 

84 

3  £69 

5  890 

1,669 

101 

46,  725 

a  Production  of  ,3£tna  and  Napa-  mines  in  1883  under  heading  of  Napa  mine. 
Production  of  quicksilver  in  California  in  1884,  by  months. 


jj 

£ 

s 

g 

gj 

i 

a? 

c§ 

eS 

M 

£ 

s 

"CD 

Months. 

j3 

i 

a 

1 

1 

00 

«} 

H 

a 

0 

^a 

-3 

eS 

j 

•+J 

I 

. 

I 

s 

? 

•£* 

1 

I 

_g 

1 

2 

B 
9 

i 

% 

fc 

& 

OJ 

(3 

& 

$ 

fc 

o 

> 

H 

Flasks. 

Flasks. 

FVks. 

Fl'ks. 

Flasks. 

Flasks. 

FVks. 

FVks. 

FVks. 

FVks. 

Flasks. 

January  

1  440 

103 

127 

263 

373 

329 

135 

28 

7 

2,805 

February 

458 

59 

104 

241 

276 

174 

9 

?  321 

March           

606 

36 

123 

68 

223 

249 

152 

2 

2,459 

785 

75 

50 

76 

232 

422 

69 

2  709 

May 

672 

125 

53 

200 

169 

245 

6 

2,470 

859 

44 

118 

200 

258 

215 

2  694 

July 

543 

29 

71 

52 

200 

258 

374 

101 

2  628 

804 

63 

47 

20 

306 

334 

228 

110 

'•>  912 

September 

1  448 

67 

52 

35 

58 

354 

136 

169 

58 

2  377 

October  

1,625 

115 

68 

25 

160 

328 

153 

90 

104 

2,  668 

November 

1  900 

]57 

32 

53 

150 

230 

132 

240 

91 

2  985 

December  

1,860 

152 

36 

98 

105 

292 

172 

130 

40 

2,  885 

Total  

20,  000 

1,025 

J,U 

881 

890 

1,179 

3,  292 

2,931 

1,376 

332 

7 

31,  913 

Foreign  production. — The  leading  foreign  quicksilver  mines  are  the  Al- 
inaden,  in  Spain,  and  the  Idria,  in  Austria.  Compared  with  these,  the 
other  foreign  sources  are  insignificant.  The  Almaden  has  been  worked 
for  hundreds  of  years,  and  is  still  producing  largely.  Its  output  from 
1504  to  1875  was  120,179  Spanish  tons,  or  3,482,758  flasks  of  75  Spanish 
pounds  (of  76.07  pounds  avoirdupois).  Up  to  the  close  of  1884  it  had 
yielded  3,918,784  flasks,  an  average  production  of  about  12,000  flasks 
yearly  for  319  years.  The  Idria  mine  was  discovered  in  1490  or  141)7, 
and  next  to  the  Almaden  has  furnished  the  greater  part  of  the  world's 
quicksilver  supply  for  nearly  four  centuries.  Since  1850,  however,  the 
California  mines  have  contributed  one-half  of  the  total  supply, 


QUICKSILVER. 


497 


Production  of  theAlmaden  mine  (Spain)  and  Ihe  Idria  mine  (Austria")  from  1850  to  close  of 

1884. 


Years. 

A  1  m  a  d  e  n 
(in  periods  of 
five  years). 

Idria. 

Years. 

Almaden 
(in  periods  of 
five  years). 

Idria. 

1850 

Flasks. 

\      101,  517-J 

J                     ( 
1                     ( 
1 
j-       110,  058  < 

J                      I 

1           j 
1    *"1 

[>       153,  224  -j 

Flask*. 
4,100 
4,092 
4,085 
4,409 
i,  OCO 
4,446 
5,935 
•  9,189 
4,977 
8,  239 
4,821 
6,493 
4,712 
5,878 

4*,  908 
•  5,327 
7,  532 
8,  253 
9,179 

1870 

Flasks. 

1          f 

V       165,  608  ^ 

1                      1 
j>       208,  200  < 

041,  640 
50,  353 
46,  591 
46,  143 
43,  099 

Flasks. 
10,  745 
10,  904 
11,116 
10,  939 
10,  789 
10,  717 
10,  794 
11,020 
10,  403 
11,153 
12,  356 
11,333 
11.  663 
13;  152 
613,  000 

185  L 

1871 

1852 

;  1872              

1853 

i  1873 

1854  

1874  

1^55 

i  1875 

1856  

1876      

1857 

i  1877 

1858 

I  1878 

1859               .   . 

1  1879 

1860  

1880  

1861  

j  1881                          

1862 

1863  

1883        .                . 

18G4 

1884 

18G5 

Total,  thirty-five  years.. 

1866     . 

1,  088,  550 

288,  982 

1867  

1868 

18C9    

a  Yearly.  6  Estimated. 

The  world's  production  of  quicksilver  from  1850  to  the  close  of  1884. 


Localities. 

Number  of 
flasks. 

Pounds 
avoirdupois  to 
the  flask. 

California  

1  389  316 

76  50 

Spain  .  .                ... 

l'  088*  550 

76  07 

Austria 

288  982 

76  07 

Total... 

2.  766.  848 

Prices. — Until  recently  it  lias  been  customary  in  this  country  to  quote 
the  price  of  quicksilver  at  so  many  cents  per  pound,  while  in  the  Lon- 
don market  quotations  have  been  in  pounds  sterling  per  flask.  It  is 
now  becoming  the  rule  in  San  Francisco  to  state  prices  by  the  flask,  at 
the  American  standard  of  76J  net  pounds  avoirdupois.  For  conven*. 
ience  in  comparing  the  two  systems  a  conversion  table,  prepared  by  Mr. 
Randol,  is  appended,  which  shows  equivalent  prices  per  flask  and  per 
pound,  within  the  range  of  recent  fluctuations  : 

Price  of  quicksilver  per  flask  and  per  pound. 


Per 
flask. 

Equivalent 
iii  cents 
per  pound. 

Per 

flask. 

Equivalent 
in  cents 
per  pound. 

i    Per 

:  flask. 

Equivalent 
in  cents 
per  pound. 

Per 

flask. 

Equivalent 
in  cents    j 
per  pound. 

$26.  00 

.      33.  98 

$29.00 

37.91 

$32.  00 

41.83  ! 

$35.  00 

45.75 

26.25 

34.31 

29.  25 

38.  23 

32.25 

42.16 

35.25 

46.07 

26.50 

34.64 

29.50 

38.56 

32.  50 

42.48 

35.50 

46.40 

26.75 

34.96 

29.75 

38.89 

32.  75 

42.81 

35.75 

46.73 

27.00 

35.29 

30.00 

39.  21 

«     33.  00 

43.  14  ! 

36.00 

47.05 

27.  23 

35.62 

30.25 

39.54 

i     33.  25 

43.47  ! 

36.25 

47.38 

27.50 

35.95 

30.50 

39.87 

!     33.  50 

43.  79  ; 

36.  50 

47.71 

27.75 

36.  27 

30.75 

40.20 

!     33.75 

44.12 

36.75 

48.04 

28.00 

36.60 

31.00 

40.52 

i     34.00 

44.45 

37.00 

48.36 

28.25 

36.93 

31.25 

40.  85 

|     34.25 

44.77  : 

37.25 

48.69 

28.50 

37.25 

31.50 

41.18 

i     34.  50 

45.  10  ! 

37.50 

49.02 

28.75 

37.58 

31.75 

41.  50 

34.  75 

45.43  ! 

37.75 

49.34 

2  M 


498 


MINERAL    RESOURCES. 


The  following  table  shows  the  range  in  price  since  1850  in  the  two 
great  markets.  The  lowest  price  ($25.25  per  flask)  at  San  Francisco 
was  touched  in  1879,  though  the  average  for  the  year  1883  ($26.83  as 
computed  by  averaging  monthly  quotations)  was  the  lowest  yearly  aver- 
age. While  prices  were  also  very  much  depressed  during  the  greater 
part  of  1884,  a  sudden  rise  to  $35  toward  the  close  of  the  year  brought 
the  average  of  the  monthly  quotations  up  to  $29.34  for  the  year.  Com- 
puted at  these  averages,  the  total  value  of  the  product  of  1883  was 
$  1,253,632,  and  that  of  J  884  was  $936,327.  The  highest  price  was  reached 
in  1874  and  1875,  when  quicksilver  sold  up  to  $118.55  per  flask,  at  which 
time  the  demand  for  amalgamation  was  great,  and  before  the  subsequent 
temporary  expansion  in  production.  Thus  the  minimum  price  was  less 
than  a  quarter  of  the  highest  rate  obtained,  showing  a  remarkably  wide 
range  in  values. 

Highest  and  lowest  prices  of  quicksilver  during  ihe  past  thirty-Jive  years. 


Years. 

Price  in  San  Fran- 
cisco per  flask. 

Price  in  London  per 
flask. 

Highest. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Lowest. 

1850     .           

$114.  75 
76.50 
61.20 
55.  45 
55.45 
55.  45 
51.65 
53.  55 
49.75 
76.50 
57.35 
49.75 
38.25 
45.90 
45.90 
45.  90 
57  35 

$84.  15 
57.35 
55.45 
55.  45 
55.45 
51.  65 
51.65 
45.90 
45.  90 
49.75 
49.75 
3f45 
34.45 
38.  25 
45.  "0 
45.90 
45.90 
45.90 
45.90 
45.90 
45.90 
57.35 
65.00 
68.85 
91.80 
49.75 
34.45 
30.60 
29.85 
25.  25 
27.55 
27.90 
27.35 
26.00 
26.00 

£. 
15 
13 
11 
8 
7 
6 
6 
6 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
9 
8 
8 
7 
6 
6 
10 
12 
13 
20 
26 
24 
12 
9 
7 
8 
7 
7 
6 
5 
6 

s. 
0 
15 
10 
16 
15 
17 
10 
10 
10 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
17 
17 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
10 
5 
15 
15 
0 
6 
17 
15 

d. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
0 

£. 
13 
12 
9 
8 
7 
6 
6 
6 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
9 
10 
12 
19 
9 
7 
7 
6 
5 
6 
6 
5 
5 
5 

*.    d. 
2      6 
5      0 
7      6 
2      6 
5      0 
10      0 
10      0 
10      0 
5      0 
0      0 
0      0 
0      0 
0      0 
0      0 
10      0 
17      6 
17      6 
16      0 
16      0 
16      0 
16 
0 
0 
10 
0 
17 
17 
2 
7 
17 
7      6 
2      6 
15      0 
5      0 
2      6 

1851 

1852 

1853  

i.-Ct-l 

1855  

lh.,6 

1  857 

1  c:58 

1851)          

IhGO 

1<«6-1 

18U4 

ib(j;j    ..                           

lHi»4 

1865                            

18uti 

1867                                        

45.90 
45.  90 
45.90 
68>5 
68.85 
66.95 
91.80 
118.55 
118.  55 
53.55 
44.00 
35.  95 
34.  45 
34.45 
31.75 
29.10 
28.50 
35.00 

1&69 

1870 

1871                                    ...             

'872 

1873                                                       .   .        ..     

1874 

1875                                                      

187(5 

1877                                                    .  .               

1878 

1879                                           .       ...              

1880 

1881                                          

1882 

jgg3                               .       .  .           

1884 

Extreme  range  in  thirty-five  years 

118.  55 

25.25 

26 

0 

0 

5 

2      6 

QUICKSILVER.  499 

Monthly  quotations  of  quicksilver  at  San  Francisco  in  1883  and  1884  per  flask. 


Months. 

1883. 

1884. 

Highest. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Lowest. 

$26.  75 
27.25 
28.00 
27.00 
27.00 
28.50 
28.50 
27.50 
26.75 
26.  50 
26.50 
26.25 

$26.  00 
26.00 
26.75 
26.75 
26.75 
26.75 
27.50 
26.  25 
26.25 
26.50 
26.00 
26.00 

$26.  25 
29.00 
29.00 
29.00 
29.00 
29.00 
29  00 
30.00 
31.00 
30.  50 
34.00 
35.00 

$26.  00 
26.00 
28  00 
28.00 
29.00 
29.00 
28.75 
28.75 
30.iO 
29.00 
29.00 
32.00 

March                                             

April 

May     . 

June                                                                       .. 

July 

August                                                                         . 

September  ...     -  

October 

December                                                                .  

Extreme  ran  "'e                                            ...... 

28.50 

$26 

26.00 
^83 

35.00 
$25 

26.00 

/  —  •  ' 
(.34 

Average                                                          

Imports. — The  largest  importation  of  quicksilver  was  in  tbe  fiscal  year 
1883,  when  the  amount  rose  to  1,500,000  pounds.  In  that  year,  how- 
ever, the  exports  were  also  large,  reaching  2,750,000  pounds.  The  im- 
ports during  the  last  fiscal  year  fell  to  less  than  a  tenth  of  the  amount 
imported  in  the  fiscal  year  1883. 

Quicksilver  imported  and  entered  for  consumption  in  the  United  States,  1867  to  1884  inclu- 
sive. 


Fiscal  years  ending  June  30  — 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Fiscal  years  ending  June  30— 

Quantity. 

Value. 

1867 

Pounds. 

$15  248 

1876  

Pounds. 
78  902 

$50  164 

1868 

152 

68 

1877 

38  230 

19  558 

1869 

11 

1878           

294  207 

135  178 

1870 

239  223 

107  646 

1879 

519  195 

217  770 

1871 

30  1'  965 

137  332 

1880        

116  700 

48  463 

1872 

370  303 

189  94:{ 

1881 

138  517 

57  733 

1873 

99  898 

74'  140 

1882     .      

597  898 

233  057 

3874 

51  20-) 

5-?  093 

18£3 

1  552  738 

593  367 

1875 

6  870 

20  957 

1884 

136  615 

44  035 

Mercurial  preparations  imported  and  entered  for  consumption  in  the  United  Spates,  1867  to 

1883  inclusive,  (a) 


Fiscal  years  ending  June  30  — 

Blue-mass. 

Calomel. 

Mercurial 
preparations 
uot  otherwise 

specified. 

Total 
value 

Quantity.    Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

1867 

Pounds. 

1,009 
919 
259 
125 
489 
455 
397 
485 
533 
395 
207 
188 

$667 
660 
192 
109 
365 
327 
252 
266 
2C2 
236 
124 
79 

Pounds. 

8,241 
5,  520 
6,138 
2,424 
5  433 
4,649 
4,133 
5,875 
4,780 
8,  177 
5,215 
8,732 

$4,242 
4,440 
4,516 
6,  306 
3.  147 
6,590 
5,240 
6,676 
2,817 
5,820 
4,  305 
3,576 
4,  6:!5 
3,  o30 
5,  H40 
3,411 
5,503 

$629 
699 
4,  3:J4 
52 
92 
90 
363 
6,453 
30 
116 
58 
190 

$2,  242 
4.440 
4!  516 
6,306 
3,147 
7,886 
6,599 
11,202 
2,978 
6,277 
4,  722 
4,191 
11,354 
3,  622 
5,992 
3,593 
5,772 

1868                  

1869 

1870                   

1871 

1872                

1873 

1874              

1875 

1876.   

1877 

1878     

1879 

1880  

1881                .  . 

1882     

1833 

a  Not  specified  in  1884. 


500 


MINERAL    RESOURCES. 


Exports. — The  maximum  exportation  was  in  the  fiscal  year  1877,  when 
it'reached  nearly  4,000,000  pounds.  In  the  fiscal  year  1884  less  than  a 
third  of  that  amount,  and  less  than  half  of  the  amount  for  1883,  was 
exported.  The  yearly  exports  since  1854  are  shown  in  the  following 

table : 

Quicksilver  of  domestic  production  exported  from  the  United  States. 


Fiscal  years  ending  June 
30— 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Fiscal  years  ending  June 
30— 

Quantity. 

Value. 

1854 

Pounds. 

$94  335 

1870 

Pounds. 
1  200  385 

$511  918 

1855   

806  119 

3871     

994,  005 

732  845 

1856 

831  724 

1872 

86°  C94 

691  637 

1857 

665  480 

1873     

714,  783 

626  021 

1858 

129  184 

1874 

501  389 

f>80  :V»1 

1859 

1875             

986  469 

(•75,  706 

I860 

053  688 

1876 

2  711  584 

740  29:? 

1861 

631  450 

1877     

3,894,311 

,  7(57  2i;i> 

1862 

1  237  643 

1878 

2  552  388 

230  COG 

1863 

1  237  116 

1879         

3  624,827 

418  331 

1864  

1,  736,  596 

976,  868 

1880  

3,574,412 

1,300,  176 

1865 

1  e'^  063 

1881            .  ... 

2  055  948 

1,  124  1)55 

1866 

2  948  699 

1  508  039 

1882 

2  485  551 

959  128 

1867 

1  73C  924 

750  673 

1883        

2,  7ee,  554 

1  020  8^7 

1868  

2,  995,  789 

1,220  809 

1884  

1,  242,  080 

427,219 

1869  .  .  . 

2.  152,  499 

869.  803 

Movement  of  quicksilver  from  San  Francisco  by  aea  and  rail. 


Tears. 

Flasks. 

Tears. 

Flasks. 

1850 

6  467 

1869 

24  415 

1851       

10  791 

1870     

14,  240 

1852 

21  458 

1871 

16  330 

1853      

18  800 

1872  

16  780 

1854 

20  9/53 

1873 

11  164 

1855       

27*  165 

1&74       

11  750 

1856 

23  740 

1875 

37  8"9 

1857        

27  262 

1876 

49  046 

1858 

24  412 

1877 

5-2  CO") 

1859            

3*  399 

1878 

41  877 

I860  

9  488 

1879  

62,  8»5 

1861         .          

35  995 

1880 

46  294 

1862 

23  747 

1881 

4">  ~fn 

1863              ..     " 

26  014 

1882 

40  417 

1864 

36  997 

1883 

37  867 

1865 

4''  469 

1884 

21  90  L 

1866 

30  287 

1867                  

28*  8.T3 

Tota 

994  001 

1868... 

44.  506 

The  shipments  shown  in  this  and  in  the  following  table  do  not  include 
supplies  sent  to  local  and  Xevada  precious-metal  mines. 

Movement  of  quicksilver  from  San  Francisco  in  1883  and  1884  in  detail. 


To— 

1883. 

1884. 

Increase. 

Decrease. 

By  sea: 
China                                                                     ..     . 

Flank*. 
16  330 

Flasks. 
200 

Flasks. 

Fla*k* 

16  no 

Japan  

1,253 

588 

OC5 

10  764 

5  404 

5  360 

970 

'l55 

81  r) 

600 

110 

490 

'   160 

20 

140 

59 

52 

New  Turk  _  

3,  100 

8,  300 

5  *>50 

Various.  .. 

11 

22 

11 

Total  by  sea !      33,247 

By  rail : 

Central  Pacific,  Southern  Pacific,  and  Northern  Pa- 

4, 


cific  railroads 
Grand  total 


37,  867 


14,  901 


«7,000  )  2,380 

21,901 


]8,  346 


(i Including  about  3,500  flasks  to  Mexipo  by  Southern  Pacific  railroad, 


QUICKSILVER.  501 

The  following  table  shows  the  relation  of  the  production  to  the  out- 
ward movement,  the  difference  being  the  balance  available  for  coubump- 
tioii  and  stock  on  the  Pacific  coast : 

Relation  of  production  to  shipments  from  San  Francisco. 

.  .  .  . 

Years.  Production.  Shipments,      Ualuuce. 


1P80             

.  Flasks. 
59,  9->G 

Flasks. 
46,  294 

J-'lai  ks. 
13,  632 

1881                                  

60,851  i 

4.3,  799 

lf>,  052 

1882     .                 

52,732  , 

40,417  ! 

12,315 

]  883        •                            

46,725 

37,  f'67  • 

8,858 

18?  4 

31  913  i 

21  901  • 

10  012 

*  ! 

i 

Movement  of  quicksilver  at  London. — The  imports  during  1883  were 
54,519  flasks,  and  the  exports  48,997  flasks.  lu  1884  the  imports  were 
56,969  flasks,  and  the  exports  52,492  flasks.  The  stock  at  London  De- 
cember 31,  1884,  was  estimated  at  about  74,000  flasks. 

Virmilion  is  an  artificial  sulphide  of  quicksilver.  In  the  United 
States  the  manufacture  centers  around  New  York  City,  with  two  estab- 
lishments in  Philadelphia  and  one  in  Baltimore.  The  manufacturers  of 
quicksilver  vermilion  are:  D.  F.  Tiemann  &  Co.,  Sondheim,  Alsberg  & 
Co.,  and  A.  B.  Ansbacher  &  Co.,  of  New  York  City;  C.  T.  Eaynolds  & 
Co.,  of  New  York  City  and  Chicago;  G.  &  N.  Poppelin,  jr.,  of  Balti- 
more ;  J.  T.  Lewis  &  Co.  and  Glahn  &  Co.,  of  Philadelphia.  The  pro- 
duction in  the  past  three  years  is  estimated  as  follows : 

Production  of  quicksilver  vermilion  in  the  United  Stales,  1882,  1883,  and  1884. 


Tears. 

Pounds. 

Price  per 
pound. 

Total 
value. 

1882  

700  000 

$0.45 

$315,000 

1883 

650  000 

45 

299  500 

1884  

600  000 

48 

288  000 

The  falling  off  in  production  has  been  due  partly  to  dullness  of  trade, 
and  partly  to  the  competition  of  other  reds.  The  price  was  for  some  time 
stationary  at  45  cents  per  pound,  until  November  22, 1884,  when  it  was 
advanced  to  55  cents,  on  account  of  the  rise  in  price  of  quicksilver. 

The  genuine  quicksilver  vermilion  is  known  as  u  quicksilver,"  "  Cali- 
fornia," or  "English"  vermilion.  It  is  claimed  to  be  of  better  quality 
than  the  imported,  though  the  latter  sells  at  10  to  15  cents  higher  per 
pound.  While  there  is  probably  little  intrinsic  difference,  the  home 
manufacturers  are  in  better  position  to  understand  the  taste  of  local 
consumers.  The  domestic  vermilion  is  made  from  California  quicksilver 
or  from  the  foreign  metal,  indifferently,  but  more  commonly  from  the 
former.  The  process  is  reported  by  Mr.  Marcus  Benjamin  to  consist  in 
bringing  quicksilver,  sulphur,  potassium  hydroxide,  and  water  together 
in  a  revolving  drum.  The  mixture  is  gently  heated  until  115°  Fabr. 


502 


MINERAL   RESOURCES. 


is  reached ;  the  temperature  is  then  kept  constant,  and  the  reddening 
action  proceeds.  The  composition  of  the  vermilion  is  approximately 
mercury,  86.3  parts ;  sulphur,  13.7  parts. 

A  number  of  pigments  known  as  vermilion,  but  not  made  from  quick- 
silver, are  on  the  market,  under  the  names  of  "American  vermilion,"  a 
chromate  of  lead,  also  known,  as  "Persian  red,"  "Persian  scarlet," 
"chrome  red,"  "  scarlet  vermilion,"  etc.  About  1,000,000  pounds  of  this 
material  were  made  in  1883,  and  750,000  pounds  in  1884.  "  Imitation  ver- 
milion" is  an  aniline  color  thrown  on  a  lead  body  (oxide  or  carbonate), 
and  is  said  to  be  fugitive.  There  are  numberless  names  for  it;  "Colum- 
bian red,"  "zubia,"  "ruboide,"  "Eoman  red,"  "Swiss  red,"  etc.  These 
colors  have  largely  superseded  true  vermilion,  as  they  are  of  a  brilliant 
red,  stand  exposure  fairly  well,  changing  to  a  lighter  color  instead  of  a 
darker,  as  is  the  case  with  genuine  vermilion,  and  are  very  much  lower 
in  price.  The  production  of  aniline  vermilions  was  about  750,000  pounds 
in  1883,  and  600,000  pounds  in  1884.  The  chromate  of  lead  vermilions 
sold  at  about  11 J  cents  per  pound  in  1883,  and  following  the  gradual 
decline  in  white  lead  (carbonate)  fell  to  10£  cents  in  1884.  The  various 
grades  of  aniline  vermilion  brought  from  10  to  35  cents  per  pound  in 
1883,  and  declined  to  8£  to  25  cents  in  1884,  owing  to  the  removal  of  the 
duty  on  aniline  and  eosine.  Quicksilver  vermilion  is  considered  to  be 
superior  in  body,  permanency,  and  richness,  but  the  question  of  price 
affects  the  sale.  The  scarlet  chromates  of  lead,  while  possessing  endur- 
ing qualities,  lack  body  and  are  not  so  rich  in  color.  Between  the  two, 
of  late  years,  the  eosine  reds  have  appeared.  Their  color  is  exceedingly 
brilliant,  and  the  body  good;  but  their  comparatively  fugitive  character 
is  a  drawback. 

In  1883  there  were  16,330  flasks  of  quicksilver  sent  from  the  United 
States  to  China,  all  of  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  made  into  ver- 
milion in  the  latter  country ;  but  in  1884  the  Chinese  market  was  supplied 
with  Spanish  quicksilver  sent  from  London,  though  a  little  American 
quicksilver  may  have  reached  China  indirectly  and  thus  escaped  record. 

The  imports  of  vermilion,  with  their  declared  foreign  valuations,  have 
been  as  follows : 

Vermilion  imported  and  entered  for  consumption  in  the  United  States,  1867  to  1884  in- 
clusive. 


Fiscal  years  ending  June  30  — 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Fiscal  years  ending  June  30— 

Quantity. 

Value. 

1867 

Pounds. 

$123  506 

1876 

Pounds. 
18  9£» 

$17  680 

1868    

90  648 

1877 

23  315 

14  660 

1869 

247  382 

145  665 

1878 

9  843 

5  772 

1870    

104  523 

57  262 

1879 

11  382 

6  105 

1871 

79  195 

43  935 

1880 

11  952 

5  997 

1872  

120  067 

49  237 

1881 

14  243 

7*392 

1873 

87  008 

65  796 

1882 

12  496 

6  215 

1874    

42  324 

39  443 

1883 

19  549 

8  796 

1875 

9  460 

10  831 

1884 

(a) 

10  473 

a  Not  specified. 


QUICKSILVER.  503 

New  uses  for  quicksilver. — Mr.  J.  A.  Bauer  has  called  attention  to  the 
use  of  quicksilver  as  a  preventive  and  cure  for  phylloxera.  Corrosive 
sublimate  was  first  tried  by  Mr.  Bauer,  but  was  not  found  to  answer, 
as  the  mercuric  chloride  was  speedily  decomposed  by  the  earths  of 
the  soils  to  which  it  was  applied.  The  quicksilver  is  used  in  mixture 
with  fine  powdered  clay,  equal  weights  of  each,  and  is  so  finely  divided 
that  separate  globules  of  the  metal  cannot  be  distinguished  under  an 
ordinary  microscope.  This  mixture  of  quicksilver  and  clay  is  added 
to  the  soil  of  the  hole  in  which  the  vine  is  planted.  Half  an  ounce  of 
quicksilver  to  each  vine  is  said  to  be  about  the  proper  quantity.  The 
clay  used  must  be  free  from  grittiness ;  the  mixture  with  the  quicksilver 
is  done  in  revolving  barrels.  A  number  of  experiments,  said  to  have  re- 
sulted satisfactorily,  have  been  made.  Another  use  has  been  suggested, 
namely,  the  use  of  a  weak  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate  (bichloride  of 
mercury)  as  a  disinfectant  and  germicide  in  case  of  epidemic  cholera. 
These  applications,  if  adopted  on  a  large  scale,  would  do  much  to  relieve 
the  quicksilver  market. 


